Note: Some people are using the term Personal Automated
Transport (PAT) instead of PRT which is more commonly used. Both terms refer to the same
set of ideas and are used interchangeably on this page. The same is true of the
Swedish term PodCar which is also being used frequently. Most recently, Vectus
PRT has been using Intelligent People Mover (IPM) for their system. Another
term in common use is ATN (Automated Transit Networks)

ModuTram is a completely new urban transport system, based
on Group Rapid Transit (GRT) concepts and technology. It is intended to
connect with and complement other types of transport systems such as Bus Rapid
Transit, Light Rail and Bicycle options. It offers a medium capacity service
for urban travel using an integrated, elevated, network in locations where
large investments in other types of public transport infrastructure are not
cost-effective, due to very high and disruptive construction and maintenance
costs, limited coverage, unreliability, safety issues and many other reasons.
ModuTram has been specifically developed to be affordable for a variety of
applications in cities in Latin America and other countries. It offers a level
of service that current patrons of public transport in many cities have never
experienced, such as short waiting times, rapid and direct travel to desired
locations and a guaranteed seat during peak travel and special event periods.

Software and control Technology

The ModuTram system includes software and electronic devices
to control the grouping of passengers with common destinations. It adjusts
route and service schedules to meet variable passenger demands and is controls
the movement of vehicles with accuracy and safety (patent pending).

The Tubnet Transit
concept being developed in Bejing, China, features 2-4-passenger vehicles,
either
operating in a tube, or without a tube, with or without using solar energy
A test track has been built and is operational and several large scale computer simulations have been performed
An English version of their website is available and it includes several
videos. Here is a
link a a bird's eyel view of how this concept might be deployed to serve
the mobility needs of a largely congestion free New City concept. Retrofitting
existing cities might also be possible. Many other applications of this
technology are described in videos at their website.

Belo is a collection of links to a variety of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)
and Group Rapid Transit (GRT) technologies. These are all small vehicle technologies, designed to carry four or fewer
(or more in GRT vehicles) people on an elevated guideway, or at ground level, with off-line stations. Larger automated systems (Group Rapid Transit
- GRT) have not been included here.

2getthere has a small (10 vehicles, 2 stations) system running at the
Masdar Eco-city that has been open to the public since November, 2010. See the
PRT rider report from Masdar below. As of 2016 it has a GRT project in
Singapore. Several others projects are active and receiving significant attention. Others
are more or less dormant, still searching for development funding. Lastly, some PRT system
descriptions are included for their historical interest. Here is a
compact, current description
of PRT system attributes, prepared by the ATRA Industry Group, October, 2011,
2pp.,illustrated. All three of these systems are considered to be "market-ready"
in most respects.

For examples of active proposals to apply the PRT
concept, see the descriptions of the Cities21 project
in the Silicon Valley of California and the Skyloop
project in Cincinnati, Ohio (no longer available on-line). Another exciting proposal is being considered for the Kangnam area in the
southern part of Seoul, Korea. Illustration at left was developed by Bob Brodbeck of
SkyLoop for a street in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

A demonstration project for the ULTra PRT system was announced for Cardiff, Wales
in 2004. An eyewitness report from Steve Raney is available
that includes a diagram of the test track, various pictures and a video. An article about
ULTra was published in Urban
Transport International, March-April, 2002 issue. Two additional (2003) papers about
ULTra are also available - links are provided in the ULTra section below.

Project conception at a lunch meeting in 1991.
Contract awarded October 1993, agreement signed by Raytheon and Chicago RTA
Groundbreaking for test facility at Marlborough, Mass., August 1995
Station exhibit opens at Rosemont, Ill., August 1995
First vehicle and guideway built and in operation, summer 1996
Prototype tests with 3 vehicles, 5 days/16 hours per day, during 1996
Full test program completed July 1998
Expected to be in operation in Rosemont in 1999 but sufficient funding could
not be found.
Raytheon terminated effort October 15, 1999, RTA terminated their
participation in mid-2000.

Some other significant events that occurred during the
development period:
Providence & Warwick, Rhode Island, $400k PRT Viability study, completed
Fall, '97, sponsored by Rhode Island DOT,
participants included Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, U of
Rhode Island. Some
of the funds came from Federal Transit Administration.

Regional Transportation Authority's PRT newsletter claims there were 35 active
marketing studies going on
during the development period

The RTA's royalty was to be 1.3% of all future sales. The Rosemont
demonstration project cost was estimated at about $125 M. Raytheon's
investment was at least $40 M, RTA's was at least $20 M. The Village of
Rosemont spent $400k on demand study.
Fares were expected to be $2/ride.

Raytheon exhibited the vehicle and made presentations (including videos) in
several locations around the world
during the development period. PRT 2000 was terminated about the same time as
the stock price took a steep dive.

As of October, 2015, the ULTRa system at Heathrow airport is reported
to be owned and operated by the airport, having been purchased by them. It is
not currently known if the intellectual property was also purchased as well or
what the status of the Ultra company is at the present time.
Prototypes Built

The Taxi 2000 Corporation completed Phase I of its development program in April,
2003 and has unveiled its Skyweb Express vehicle to the public. See their website for photos and press articles
about this event. Efforts to raise several million dollars for Phase II of the development
program are progressing. One investment of $2 M was announced in November, 2003 and Phase
II work is now underway.

A MicroRail elevated guideway segment and vehicle has been built and static load
tests conducted - see Press
Release of April 12, 2002 for details and photo. A major update of the MegaRail
website that announces a modified marketing strategy and presents a broad range of prospective
products was released in July, 2004. An operational full-scale prototype
vehicle and new guideway section have been built and a testing program is
underway in 2012 at their facility located near Ft. Worth, Texas